Attachments for a collapsible marine ladder

Abstract

A collapsible marine ladder has a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The collapsible marine ladder has a first rail, a second rail, and rungs. Each rung has a rung length spanning between the first rail and the second rail. A rung attachment is attached to each of the plurality of rungs, wherein the rung attachment comprises a rung attachment body, a recess along a bottom section of the rung attachment body for receiving the rung, and a top surface of the rung attachment body. A first section of the top surface is above the rung when the rung attachment is attached to the rung and the collapsible marine ladder is in the deployed configuration. A second section is cojoined with a front side of the first section and wherein the second section is downwardly angled such that an angle is formed between the first section and the second section.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A collapsible marine ladder comprising a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the collapsible marine ladder comprises:
 a first rail and a second rail;   a plurality of rungs, wherein each rung of the plurality of rungs has a rung length spanning between the first rail and the second rail;   a plurality of first rail segments telescopically arranged defining the first rail so that the first rail can move between a first rail stowed configuration and a first rail deployed configuration;   a plurality of second rail segments telescopically arranged defining the second rail so that the second rail can move between a second rail stowed configuration and a second rail deployed configuration;   a rung attachment attached to each rung of the plurality of rungs, wherein the rung attachment comprises:
 a rung attachment body spanning a substantial portion of the rung length of each rung; 
 a top surface of the rung attachment body; 
 a first section of the top surface defining an apex of the top surface, wherein all the first section is above the rung when the rung attachment is attached to the rung and the collapsible marine ladder is in the deployed configuration; and 
 a second section contiguous with a front side of the first section, wherein the second section is downwardly angled relative to the apex of the first section such that an angle of at least ten degrees and at most thirty degrees is formed between the first section and the second section; 
 a third section contiguous with a back side of the first section, wherein a third section is downwardly angled relative to the apex of the first section such that a second angle of at least ten degrees and at most thirty degrees is formed between the first section and the third section; 
 a first recess along a bottom section of the rung attachment body coupled to the rung of the plurality of rungs, wherein the first recess is disposed below the third section of the rung attachment; 
 a second recess along the bottom section of the rung that is disposed below the second section of the top surface and is adjacent to the first recess; and 
 a light element disposed within the second recess; 
   wherein, in the deployed configuration, the third section of the top surface is disposed above the rung that is disposed the first recess such that the third section has an effective upward incline relative to a horizontal plane extending through the first section; and   wherein, in the deployed configuration, the second section of the top surface is oriented at an effective angle of between 20 degrees and 50 degrees downward relative to the horizontal plane extending through the first section.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 1 , wherein a plate attaches by at least one a plate fastener to the bottom section of the rung attachment body. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 a first rail stowed rail length of the first rail in the first rail stowed configuration that is less than a first rail deployed rail length of the first rail in the first rail deployed configuration; and   a second rail stowed rail length of the second rail in the second rail stowed configuration that is less than a second rail deployed rail length of the second rail in the second rail deployed configuration.   
     
     
         4 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 1 , wherein in the stowed configuration the collapsible marine ladder further comprises:
 a first rung attachment mounted on a first rung of the plurality of rungs;   a second rung attachment mounted on a second rung of the plurality of rungs; and   wherein the third section of the first rung attachment is positioned at least proximal to a front section of the bottom section of the second rung attachment.   
     
     
         5 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 1 , wherein a rail attachment is adjustably attached to a rail upper end portion of at least one of the first rail and the second rail, wherein the rail attachment comprises:
 a rail attachment upper portion and a rail attachment lower portion;   a rail receiving element at the rail attachment lower portion, wherein the rail receiving element is configured for adjustably attaching the rail receiving element to the rail upper end portion of at least one of the first rail and the second rail; and   an arm in attachment with and extending upward relative to the rail receiving element.   
     
     
         6 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 5 , wherein the rail attachment further comprises:
 at least one wall defined by the rail receiving element for contacting the rail upper end portion;   a second arm extending radially outward from the rail receiving element and connecting the arm to the rail attachment; and   a securing means for removably securing the at least one wall of the rail receiving element to the rail upper end portion.   
     
     
         7 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 6 , wherein the rail attachment further comprises:
 a rail stowed configuration in which the arm of the rail attachment is at least partially disposed between the first rail and the second rail; and   a rail deployed configuration in which the arm of the rail attachment is not at least partially between the first rail and the second rail.   
     
     
         8 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 1 , the collapsible marine ladder further comprises:
 a bracket hingedly in attachment with the rail upper end portion of the first rail;   a base of the bracket is configured to be in attachment with a marine vessel;   a first bracket body extending upward from the base;   a second bracket body opposing and spaced apart from the first bracket body extending upward from the base;   a first bracket fastener for movably connecting the rail upper end portion to the first bracket body; and   a second bracket fastener for movably connecting the rail upper end portion to the first bracket body.   
     
     
         9 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 1 , wherein the first recess and the second recess are vertically offset relative to one another with respect to a horizontal reference plane that is tangent to the apex of the first section. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 9 , wherein a centerpoint of the first recess is disposed at a first vertical distance from the horizontal reference plane and a second centerpoint of the second recess is disposed at a second vertical distance from the horizontal reference plane, wherein the first vertical distance is greater than the second vertical distance. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 9 , wherein, in the deployed configuration and the stowed configuration, the second recess having the light is vertically offset below the first recess that is in attachment with the rung. 
     
     
         12 . A rung attachment for a collapsible marine ladder, wherein the collapsible marine ladder has a plurality of rungs and comprises a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the rung attachment comprises:
 a rung attachment body spanning a substantial portion of a rung length of a first rung of the plurality of rungs;   a first section of the top surface defining an apex of the top surface, wherein all the first section is above the first rung when the rung attachment is attached to the first rung and the collapsible marine ladder is in the deployed configuration; and   a second section contiguous with a front side of the first section, wherein the second section is downwardly angled relative to the apex of the first section such that an angle of at least seven degrees and at most thirty degrees is formed between the first section and the second section;   a third section contiguous with a back side of the first section, wherein a third section is downwardly angled relative to the apex of the first section such that a second angle of at least ten degrees and at most thirty degrees is formed between the first section and the third section;   a first recess along a bottom section of the rung attachment body coupled to the rung of the plurality of rungs, wherein the first recess is disposed below the third section of the rung attachment;   a second recess along the bottom section of the rung that is disposed below the second section of the top surface and is adjacent to the first recess; and   a light element disposed within the second recess;   wherein, in the deployed configuration, the third section of the top surface is disposed above the rung that is disposed the first recess such that the third section has an effective upward incline relative to a horizontal plane extending through the first section; and   wherein, in the deployed configuration, the second section of the top surface is oriented at an effective angle of between 20 degrees and 50 degrees downward relative to the horizontal plane extending through the first section.   
     
     
         13 . The rung attachment of  claim 12 , wherein a plate attaches by at least one plate fastener to the bottom section of the first rung attachment. 
     
     
         14 . A collapsible marine ladder comprising a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the collapsible marine ladder comprises:
 a first rail and a second rail;   a plurality of rungs, wherein each rung of the plurality of rungs has a rung length spanning between the first rail and the second rail;   a rung attachment attached to each of the plurality of rungs, wherein the rung attachment comprises:
 a rung attachment body spanning a substantial portion of the rung length; 
 a top surface of the rung attachment body; 
 a first section of the top surface defining an apex of the top surface, wherein all the first section is above the first rung when the rung attachment is attached to the first rung and the collapsible marine ladder is in the deployed configuration; and 
 a second section contiguous with a front side of the first section, wherein the second section is downwardly angled relative to the apex of the first section such that an angle of at least seven degrees and at most thirty degrees is formed between the first section and the second section; 
 a third section contiguous with a back side of the first section, wherein a third section is downwardly angled relative to the apex of the first section such that a second angle of at least ten degrees and at most thirty degrees is formed between the first section and the third section; 
 a first recess along a bottom section of the rung attachment body coupled to the rung of the plurality of rungs, wherein the first recess is disposed below the third section of the rung attachment; 
 a second recess along the bottom section of the rung that is disposed below the second section of the top surface and is adjacent to the first recess; and 
 a light element disposed within the second recess; 
   wherein, in the deployed configuration, the third section of the top surface is disposed above the rung that is disposed the first recess such that the third section has an effective upward incline relative to a horizontal plane extending through the first section; and   wherein, in the deployed configuration, the second section of the top surface is oriented at an effective angle of between 20 degrees and 50 degrees downward relative to the horizontal plane extending through the first section.   
     
     
         15 . The collapsible marine ladder of  claim 14 , wherein a plate attaches by at least one a plate fastener to the bottom section of the rung attachment body.